Thulasi Maadam

1963 Indian film
  • 15 November 1963 (1963-11-15)
CountryIndiaLanguageTamil

Thulasi Maadam (transl. Basil plant) is a 1963 Indian Tamil-language film directed by K. B. Srinivasan and written by Thamizhmaaran. The film stars A. V. M. Rajan, Gemini Chandraknatha (in dual roles), V. Gopalakrishnan and Sharadha.[1]

Plot

Mary and Janaki are two look-alike women but they are not related to each other. Mary is the daughter of a retired collector and Janaki is from a middle-class family. Mary is affianced to Thomas, an army officer while Janaki is married to a company executive. Janaki gives birth to a child. Janaki is found to have tuberculosis. So, her mother-in-law separates her from the child. In the meantime, Janaki's mother dies. The mother-in-law's adopted son Peter takes pity of the separated Janaki and her child. Accidentally he meets Mary, the look-alike of Janaki. Peter comes out with a clever plan and swaps Mary in place of Janaki. Several complications arise and finally the families are united.

Cast

The list is adapted from The Hindu article.[1]

  • A. V. M. Rajan as Company Executive
  • Gemini Chandrakantha as Mary and Janaki
  • V. Gopalakrishnan as Thomas
  • Sharadha
  • S. N. Lakshmi
  • M. S. Sundari Bai
  • Master Gopal as Peter
  • Seethalakshmi
  • A. Karunanidhi
  • S. Kathiresan

Production

The film was produced by M. A. Venu who earlier produced award-winning films like Sampoorna Ramayanam and Mudhalali. Screenplay and dialogues were written by Thamizhmaran.[1]

Soundtrack

Music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan.[2] The song "Aadum Mayile Aattam Engey" became a super hit.[1]

Song Singer Lyrics Length
"Aadum MAyile Aattam Enge" T. M. Soundararajan Ka. Mu. Sheriff 03:52
"Chithirai Maadha Nilavinile" 03:29
"Ammaadiyo Athaanukku Kovatha Paaru" S. Janaki
"Kalyaana Saappadu Podum Munne" Thiruchi Thiyagarajan 03:37
"Maiyai Thottu Ezhudhiyavar" S. Janaki & Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi 03:31

Reception

Writing for Sport and Pastime, T. M. Ramachandran said the director "has shown much courage in tackling a ticklish subject".[3] Despite this, the film did not fare well at the box office.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Guy, Randor (13 July 2013). "Thulasimaadam (1963)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 September 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  2. ^ Neelamegam, G. (2016). Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 2 (in Tamil). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. p. 125.
  3. ^ Ramachandran, T. M. (14 December 1963). "Wither Tamil Films?". Sport and Pastime. Vol. 17. p. 51. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023 – via Internet Archive.
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